Dalai Lama Threatens to Quit Over Tibet Crisis

Posted on Mar 18, 2008

Even though certain inherently prohibitive logistics make it impossible for the Dalai Lama to resign from his position as Tibet’s spiritual leader, that’s what he’s threatening to do insofar as he can if the tensions and violence in Tibet continue to escalate.

Times Online:

Prominent radicals, led by the leader of the Tibetan Youth Congress, criticised the Dalai Lama yesterday for advocating non-violence rather than independence or a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Wen Jiabao, China’s Premier, accused the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the riots in Tibet in a deliberate plot to “incite sabotage” of the Olympics.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet after a failed uprising in 1959, defended his “middle way” of campaigning peacefully for greater autonomy within China rather than independence. “On violence, it’s wrong. We should not develop anti-Chinese feelings. We must live together side by side,” he said. “Independence is out of the question.”

He responded to Mr Wen by inviting him to send his officials to conduct an investigation in Dharamsala. “Investigate thoroughly, so if you want to start investigating from here you are most welcome,” he said. “Check our various offices ... They can examine my pulse, my urine, my stool, everything.”